Find People Interesting!

I was standing in a long line at the store, about ready to pull my hair out with impatience. I glanced at my watch. I tapped my foot. Maybe I should just leave and come back another time when the line wasn’t so long. Then I remembered– find people interesting. I looked around with new eyes until I caught someone else’s. I smiled, a smile Jesus gave me. And it bounced right back!

I was playing a game with a little boy who was laughing hysterically at his own jokes. It was late at night, I was tired, and dumb jokes didn’t seem all that amusing. I yawned and wished I could go home. Then I remembered– find people interesting. I sat up straight and began wondering about this little boy’s life story. I asked him questions. I looked at his old family pictures. I even found myself laughing at his jokes!

I was sitting in an uncomfortable straight-backed chair. On the other side of the table sat a frail little woman more than four times my age. She was talking… and talking… and talking. I pretended to listen as my eyes roved the room for more exciting entertainment. Then I remembered: find people interesting. I leaned forward in my straight-backed chair. I heard about the trolley and operating the switchboard. I heard about the blizzard of ‘96 and the hay wagon ride of ‘45. It really was interesting!

Here is the video from John Piper that has inspired me to find people interesting. I needed this encouragement! I hope you will be as blessed as I was!

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).

Snowy Days, Precious Reminders

I woke up this morning to a beautiful winter fairyland. Sparkling snowflakes covered the trees and grass and rocks so that the only color to be seen was pure, gleaming white. As I gazed at the sight in blissful wonder, I was reminded of Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

As I thought on that verse, I wondered, “Do I really believe that? Does God really wash me white as snow– as white and sparkling as this beautiful snow?” And of course I do know it, not because I feel it, but because I trust in God’s Word which says “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

Every day I am boldly confronted by the harsh reality of my indwelling sin which affects everything I do. How discouraged and hopeless I would be, if not for Christ! For there is hope in Christ, because in Him, Who is perfect righteousness, I live, move, and have my being (Acts 17:28). In Christ I am cleansed as white as snow. What an amazing truth!!

I can’t express it any more simply or eloquently than did Charitie L. Bancroft, when she penned the following song in 1863. I love this song– I have been singing it constantly lately (just ask my family!). It is a beautiful reminder of my salvation and identification in Christ. Because of this I can look out the window on a snowy morning and smile, because in Him I have hope to be found “white as snow!”

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Living In The Gospel Every Day

Below is an excerpt from our last Bright Lights lesson…

At the ripe age of seven I joined the local Little League baseball team. I never really had an interest or talent for sports, but what seven-year-old doesn’t enjoy pulling her pony-tail through a baseball cap and having a crowd cheer for her when she’s up to bat?

I would stand at home plate clutching the baseball bat which was twice my size. I made sure my knees were bent and my feet position was just right. I pulled my baseball cap down to shield my eyes from the sun.

And then I looked up to see the coach on the pitcher’s mound. He held the ball up between his fingers and yelled, “Keep your eye on the ball! Keep your eye on the ball! Keep your eye on the ball, you slugger!”

And that’s all I remember about my brief baseball experience— keep your eye on the ball. Everything else was secondary to that. I could have my feet and hand position just right, my uniform could fit just perfectly, and the crowd could be cheering their heads off— and unless I kept my eye on the ball, it was all in vain.

In the Christian life, there is one concept of central importance. Next to this everything else is secondary. This concept is salvation through Jesus Christ. As J.I. Packer said, “The traveler through the Bible landscape misses his way as soon as he loses sight of the hill called Calvary.”

What was the secret of Paul’s purposeful and fruitful life? It was his central focus on salvation in Christ. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2). The theme of Paul’s life was “that Christ Jesus came to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15).

One Sunday morning, Charles Spurgeon was the guest preacher at a country church in England. His grandfather, who was also a preacher, sat behind him as he expounded Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

As Spurgeon preached on this precious truth, the gentle voice of his grandfather behind him piped up, “Good! Good!” Every so often he would feel a tug on his coat tail, and the old man would say, “Tell them that again, Charles.” And of course, Charles did.

Spurgeon and his grandfather understood that we can never hear the Gospel too often. It is a message we need to meditate on every day, growing more and more in awe of the deep riches of grace in God.

Like William Cowper, we can say, “E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.”

A Serious Game

Is it “Duck, Duck, Goose”? No, it’s Bible Jeopardy! Becky numbers every one off into teams.

Team 3 is ready to play… and to win!

All smiles while a competing team plots their strategy.

Who said, ‘Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money’?

Paul, Philip, Peter, or James?

Everyone huddles up…

We say Peter!

Please say we’re right!

So happy their getting a little goofy.

A great way to end the night!

Morning Dedication

Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to thy ways. Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay. May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise. Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clad in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings.  Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands. May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth. Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable. May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

~from The Valley of Vision: A Book of Puritan Prayers

Character Building

Our last Bright Lights lesson was “The Only Goal Worth Aiming For: Conformed to His Image.” Below are some excerpts from our meeting.

We learned that the good character is defined by Christ-likeness. We discussed the character of Christ as exhibited in the Gospels, such as His forgiveness from the cross, patience with the little children, and diligence to finish His Father’s work.

Who do you want to be like?

By the “default” of our sinful nature, we accept life goals and character qualities that are not Christ-like or Christ-exalting. Instead of striving for outward beauty, popularity, or admiration from others, we should desire chiefly to be like Christ. God created us for this purpose: to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). This is true satisfaction (Psalm 17:15).

What is the first thing you notice when you look in a mirror? Yourself, of course! After fussing over your hair or adjusting your clothing, you notice other faces or objects reflected in the mirror. But self usually comes first.

God wants us to take our gaze away from self and turn our eyes to behold Someone far more beautiful and amazing. He has given us Himself— what a priceless gift! We can see His glory as if we were looking in a mirror– clear and close. His glory is His character, ultimately manifested on the cross of Calvary. As we gaze at His glory, we will be changed into His same image! His glory will become our glory. The more we look to Christ, the more we will be like Him.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Corinthians 3:18).

No Florio family vacation would be complete without hiking up a mountain. But about midway up the mountain, as the sweat begins to trickle down my face, I always ask myself, “Why do I like hiking again?” For something that is supposed to be fun, it’s extremely exhausting.

And then we get to the top. We can see for miles:  brilliant sky, wild hawks soaring in the valley, flourishing foliage. I breathe a sigh, satisfied in the wonder of it all. “This is why I like hiking,” I remind myself.

Character-building is like hiking up a mountain. It’s hard, painful work. And it’s easier to go downhill rather than uphill.

The literal meaning of the word character refers to “a mark made by cutting or engraving, as on a stone, metal, or other hard material; as in a mark or figure used for writing.” Character is the result of Christ piercing our hearts with His glory (Acts 2:37, Hebrews 4:12). It requires death to self, blows to pride, and incisions of the heart.

But character-building is worth it! Viewing life from Christ’s perspective is an amazing and beautiful view, comparable to nothing else in the whole world.

“We should not rest contented without an experimental knowledge of the transforming power of the gospel, by the operation of the Spirit, bringing us into a conformity to the temper and tendency of the glorious gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  ~Matthew Henry

And one day the climb will be over.

It’s not the harp music or the golden streets that make heaven truly heaven. The best part about heaven— the real hope of eternity— is the fullness of the presence of Christ, unobstructed by sin. We will no longer see Him as in a mirror— we will see Him for real! We will touch Him, we will feel His nail-scarred hand.

And we shall be like Him. The struggle will be finished. We will experience complete sanctification!

What a wonderful day to look forward to!

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).